Fairhaven extends recycling hours to help with storm cleanup

Town residents with post-Irene debris will be able to access the town's Recycling Center more easily this week, thanks to extended hours.

BETH PERDUE

FAIRHAVEN — Town residents with post-Irene debris will be able to access the town's Recycling Center more easily this week, thanks to extended hours.

Public Works Superintendent Vincent Furtado said Monday the center will be staffed for full days all week including Saturday in anticipation of the cleanup. It typically is open half days, he said.

However, Furtado stressed, residents may want to call ahead because the location of the drop-off site may change. If tree damage is as extensive as it seems, the Arsene Street recycling site may fill up quickly and a second could need to be opened, he said.

"We may reach a time where the recycling center is going to be full, so when that happens, we're going to direct the residents to go to Long Road, where we have a storage location," said Furtado, adding that location will also be staffed.

During Sunday's storm, public works crews and the tree warden were out trying to clear trees and debris from road and pedestrian ways, Furtado said.

Well over 50 calls came in during the day about downed trees and branches, he said. "I personally got about 50 calls, and I wasn't the only one answering calls," he said.

On Monday, calls were still coming in from residents seeking assistance picking up brush. Public works staff were attempting to organize requests so crews were working in one section of town at a time, Furtado said.

"We're trying to be systematic about it."

Water that had been turned off in some sections of town before the storm hit was back by Sunday night, Furtado said.

"Everybody had water, I'd say, by 8:30 p.m.," he said.

Furtado said despite the mess, the town fared pretty well.

"With all the power Fairhaven lost, our three main concerns were water, making sure streets were passable and the sewer," he said.

Recycling Center hours for the week will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.